6 Causes and How to Treat Them

• White spots on the gums can develop due to a fungal overgrowth called oral thrush.
• You may also notice white patches that burn when you eat if you have canker sores.
• Pregnancy can also cause white spots on the gums due to the change in estrogen levels.

Brushing and flossing can seem like a chore at times, but taking care of your mouth pays off. Oral health is an essential part of overall health, and good oral hygiene can reduce your risk of certain diseases, such as endocarditis and cardiovascular disease.

Your oral health can also provide clues to your overall health and, in some cases, be the first sign of an underlying condition. For example, white spots on your gums may mean you have an overgrowth of yeast or a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.

Here are six reasons why you might have white spots on your gums and how to treat each condition.

1. Canker sores

Canker sores are small yellow or white sores in the mouth that have a red border. They can be painful and burn or sting if you consume acidic drinks and foods like alcohol or citrus fruits.

The exact cause of canker sores is unknown, but stress may play a role. Eating a lot of acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits can also cause canker sores to develop.

Most canker sores are usually nothing to worry about and usually go away on their own within one to three weeks, says Dr. Gary Silverstrom, Dentist at The Silverstrom Group.

How to treat it: Serious cancerous growths that are larger, deeper, more painful, and take several weeks to heal may need treatment, says Dr. Marlene Shaw, a cosmetic dentist in private practice.

Treatment may include mouthwashes, in which a medicated mouthwash is swished around the mouth. In some cases, your doctor may suggest or prescribe an over-the-counter mouthwash.

Other treatment options include:

• Pain Relieving Steroids
• saltwater rinses.

2. Oral thrush

This happens when an overgrowth of Candida fungus builds up in the mouth. This can cause creamy white or yellow patches to appear on the gums, cheeks, tongue, or roof of the mouth.

Other symptoms are:

• A cottony feeling in the mouth
• loss of taste
• Pain in the mouth or at the corners of the mouth

Most people have small amounts of Candida fungus in their mouth, but it’s usually kept in check by bacteria and other microorganisms in your body. However, some medications, such as antibiotics and some forms of birth control, can upset this balance and lead to overgrowth, which can cause oral thrush.

How to treat it: Oral thrush is usually treated with antifungal drugs like nystatin, which you take for 10 to 14 days.

3. Oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus is an inflammatory condition that affects the lining of your mouth. It can cause white, filigree patches on the mouth and gums that can turn into painful open sores or red patches, Silverstrom says.

This condition is caused by the immune system attacking cells in the lining of the mouth. Doctors aren’t yet sure why some people’s immune systems do this, but stress and genetics are thought to play a role.

How to treat it: There is no cure for oral lichen, but there are treatments that can help manage symptoms, such as corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and medications that modify your body’s immune response to reduce pain.

4. Leukoplakia

Leukoplakia is a condition in which white or gray patches develop on the gums, under the tongue and mouth, and in the cheeks. These stains can harden or thicken over time and cannot be scraped off.

The exact cause of leukoplakia is unknown, but chronic irritation from tobacco products is believed to be a contributing factor, Shaw says.

The patches that appear in leukoplakia are usually painless, Shaw says, but the condition can be serious, as some patches can show early signs of cancer. See a doctor if you notice symptoms of leukoplakia, including white or gray patches in the mouth that cannot be wiped away.

The presence of leukoplakia spots doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it could be a sign that your doctor is likely to test you for cancer through an oral biopsy.

How to treat it: Other treatments may include removal of leukoplakia patches by scalpel, laser, or a freezing probe. A treatment plan may also include quitting tobacco use.

5. Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes in the body that can lead to white spots or bumps on the gums. These aren’t usually a cause for concern, but it’s a good idea to have them checked out by a dentist, Shaw says.

During pregnancy, your estrogen and progesterone levels rise, which can lead to many changes in your oral health, including increased inflammation of your gums and a decrease in your body’s ability to respond to bacteria in plaque.

Keeping your oral hygiene up to date by brushing and flossing your teeth daily and seeing your dentist regularly can help reduce inflammation and plaque build-up during pregnancy.

How to treat it: In some cases, your dentist may recommend doing nothing and just letting the hormonal changes take their course, Shaw says. However, in some cases you may need periodontal treatment, e.g. B. a deep cleaning.

6. Periodontal abscess

Periodontal abscess is a chronic gum disease that can cause pockets of pus to accumulate in the tissues of the gums. With this condition, you may see yellow pus or small reddish-white balls pushing out of a swollen gum, Shaw says.

Other symptoms are:

• Fever
• Throbbing pain near teeth
• Swelling of the face and neck
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes

These abscesses are usually the result of a serious gum disease called periodontal disease. Periodontitis causes the gums to separate from the teeth, leaving pockets where bacteria can grow.

How to treat it: This condition is usually treated with a deep cleaning to remove the disease-causing bacteria from under your gum tissue, Shaw says. Your dentist may also prescribe you an antibiotic or a special mouthwash.

When to the doctor

If you notice white spots on your gums that are causing you mild discomfort, you can treat them at home with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or eat cold foods to relieve irritation, Shaw says.

However, if the white patches are causing severe pain, don’t go away after a few weeks, and are accompanied by bleeding, loss of taste, a cottony feeling in the mouth, or pockets of pus, see a doctor.

Insider snack

White spots on your gums may indicate a minor condition that will heal on its own, such as: a cancerous growth, or they can be a sign of a serious condition that may need treatment.

Some reasons for white spots on gums are:

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy
• oral thrush
• leukoplakia
• Oral lichen planus

If small canker sores are the cause of your white spots, they should resolve on their own in one to three weeks. However, if the white patches persist, become more painful, or are accompanied by bleeding, fever, loss of taste, or a cottony feeling in the mouth, see a doctor.